Manchester United’s interest in Jarrad Branthwaite has not faded as the Everton defender remains a key target under incoming manager Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils had two bids rejected by the Toffees for the centre-back over the summer, with the offers of up to £50m not enough to tempt the Merseyside club into a sale.
Erik ten Hag was the manager when those bids went in, but he has since been dismissed, with Amorim set to leave Sporting and take charge on Monday.
The Portuguese boss is known to deploy a 3-4-3 formation, which will be a big change for the United squad, but does not necessarily change their transfer targets.
TalkSPORT report that Branthwaite is still ‘top of the wish-list’ at Old Trafford, although the Red Devils will likely wait until next summer to make a move.
The report also states that the 22-year-old is interested in making a step up to a bigger club from Everton, although Manchester United could face competition from Liverpool who are also keen on Branthwaite.
The young defender has had an interesting career path so far, starting at Carlisle United before moving to Everton in 2020 and spending loan spells at Blackburn and PSV.
Injury has hampered him this season as he has started just one Premier League match this campaign, with his hopes of adding to his one England cap derailed for now.
Branthwaite remains under contract at Everton until 2027, so Manchester United may still have to up their offer from the failed £50m bid of earlier this year.
Amorim ramped up the excitement for his arrival among the Manchester United fanbase with Sporting’s 4-1 win over Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
He has one more game in charge – at Braga this weekend – before moving to Manchester, but has warned fans that his new club will not be able to replicate his current one.
‘We cannot transport one reality to another,’ he said. ‘United cannot play the way we play, they cannot be so defensive. Of course it’s good to beat City. But I’ll be living in a different world, we’ll have to start from a different point.’
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